August 21, 2010

I know that year after year, match reports say things like “this was the best year ever”. Having been involved in the shooting and running of this event since the early 90s, I have to say that this year’s 30th anniversary event can easily lay claim to that title. Excellent and extremely challenging courses… lots of help for a smooth set-up and tear-down… plenty of help with SO’ing and range support… and an anniversary dinner that put the events of the past to shame.

The only aspect that we couldn’t claim “best ever” status on, was the muddiness of the swamp. As Ashland Lake begins to resemble a prairie more than a body of water, there is less swamp to work with during the dry months. Luckily, the hard-working and intrepid course designers manufactured their own muck in the dreaded Tunnel of Mud, and managed to find a chest-deep hog wallow in the middle of the swamp, from which shooters had to fire their last shot. “Chest-deep” is NOT an exaggeration.

Another thing that we see year after year which never fails to amaze me, is how close the competition is at the very top. This match required numerous physical challenges requiring speed and strength, 20 short and long range slug targets, 45 buckshot targets, 8 Chi-Com assault weapon targets, plus the usual “environmental stresses” which cause both man and machine to fail, (including one gun rendered inoperable, with its barrel buried in the mud). Over the course of all of that, on three different stages, the top 3 shooters (from all divisions), were within slightly over two seconds of each other, with Tony “The Mechanic” Lavalle edging out everyone, and taking the Swamp Fox Shotgun division title.

Of special note, was the youngest shooter in Francis Marion history, Gino “The Frogman” Lavalle. This 9 year-old, with the enthusiastic and extremely vocal support of his father, Tony, handled everything we threw at him with the energy and good spirit that only comes with youth. That chest-deep hog wallow that was mentioned earlier? At its deepest, it was over Gino’s head. Luckily, he managed to negotiate it without the use of scuba equipment. When Gino gets a little more size on him, the Old Guard had better start looking over their shoulders.

Tim McGowan also ran a side-match on the bowling pin range, to cater to some of the more “distinguished” Francis Marion alumni. Many soon realized that 6” plates are VERY small at 15 yards.

My special thanks to John Moson, Tony and Gino Lavalle, Stony Smith, Jason Henthorne and Nathan Wilson for coming out on Friday to set-up, as well as working on match day. It’s punishing work, which never gets easier. Tim McGowan took a vacation day and welded up four new knock-down plates stands, which came in very handy in the swamp and will get a lot of use in the future. And finally, big thanks to Paul LeMassena, and the Fine Chefs of Combat Cuisine for the culinary masterpiece that topped off a perfect day.